Page 57 of The Night Rising

Raika undid the zipper of my pants before continuing her game from before, moving her hand up and down my length, making me harder and harder. I moved my hips with her hand, as the ecstasy built up inside of me.

This woman … the way her touch enticed me, the way the glint in her eyes made me content, the way her scent drove me crazy. She was everything to me.

I smoothed my hands down her arms, intent on taking her hands away, so we could continue this another way, but then I felt how hot her skin was.

I pulled back. “Raika, you’re burning up.”

“Shit.” She took in a deep breath. “Yeah, I can feel it.” She pouted. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I wanted to embrace her, to kiss her again, but I was afraid of what that could do to her, so I stood there, a foot from her and in deep agony. “Your health comes first.”

She inhaled deeply a few more times then touched her forehead. “It’s getting better.”

I rested a hand on her arm. “Yes, it is, but we should stop bec—”

“I think there’s something I can do, though.” She knelt in front of me, tugged my pants down a little bit, and freed my hard-on. She closed her hand around it and I sucked in sharp breath.

“Raika,” I growled.

“It’s okay,” she said, looking up at me. “This should be okay.”

Then, she closed her mouth around me, and I cursed under my breath. I should tell her to stop, I should tell her she didn’t need to do this, but damn, when it felt this good, I couldn’t. Right now, I was at her mercy.

I was always at her mercy.

She licked my length, then closed her mouth around it, sucking it hard. She moved slow at first, but oh, so deep. After a few strokes, she sped up, taking me even deeper inside her mouth. Groaning, I slid my hands in her hair, cradling the back of her head. I couldn’t help it. I moved my hips in rhythm with her, needing more, wanting more.

Desire and ecstasy coursed through me and I knew I wouldn’t last. I groaned again. “Just keep going,” I said, my voice thick.

To my surprise, Raika sped up.

Oh, shit.

My knees buckled, and I had to brace a hand on the tree behind Raika when I climaxed. I tried pulling away from Raika’s mouth, but she gripped my ass and took everything in her mouth. When I stopped, she licked my length, making me shiver, and she smiled up at me.

“You …” I growled.

She rose to her feet. “Me, what?”

Dear moon. I fisted her hair and pulled her to me. I kissed her so hard, I hoped to leave a permanent mark on her beautiful lips.

Mine, that was what it should say.

I broke the kiss, resting my forehead to hers. “That was …” I took in a deep breath.

She smiled some more. “I’m glad you liked it.”

It was a shame I couldn’t pay her back. With a sigh, I zipped up my pants, made sure I looked presentable, then hand in hand, we strolled toward the village.

20

RAIKA

“This looks perfect, Chef Morris. Thank you.” I kissed the old vampire’s cheek. He smiled coyly at me and shooed me away from his kitchen. Clutching the heavy silver tray, I left and walked through the castle’s hallways.

Last night, Shane and I had dinner in the village with Minsi, Tyren, Rue, Dom, and Lucille. Dom seemed a little off, and Shane said he had noticed Dom quieter since they came back from our pack lands.

“I’ll talk to him,” he promised.